Automatic marking machine



1964 c. E. PITTMAN ETAL 3,119,328

AUTOMATIC MARKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1958 2 INVENTORS CLARENCE EPITQIMQN 30 29 28 91 I32 1 JOHN W HILVE N 29 BY 2 A FIG.3 F|G.4

ATTORNEY United States Patent Filed .nm. 15, less, Set. No. 709,107 3 Claims. or. mi 2ss This invention relates to marking machines, and is particularly concerned with a simple, efiicient, effective and economic means for successively impressing a selected mark upon successive tickets, tags, labels or areas of a continuous supply strip.

In a wide variety of merchandising practices, individually stamped tags, labels or tickets, each bearing a price or like individual characteristic are required. Thus, in the retail distribution of foods, drugs and notions, practice frequently requires that each article bear its own price, date, code or equivalent data. Considerable diiiiculty arises in providing the requisite number of such selectively marked tags, prints or labels. Despite the fact that the volume of sales may be large, individual price variation by the retailer precludes the mass marking of such goods in advance by the manufacturer or wholesaler. if quantities of printed labels of various demoninations are provided in advance, the cost is prohibitive due largely to the requirements of selecting and detaching as well as affixing the individual price markers. It will also be seen that such procedure is not desirable where the number of labels of any given denomination may be limited. It has, of course, long been the practice to individually and manually inscribe labels as they are required, but the time consuming tedious nature of such procedure is, of course, to be avoided.

Where automatic machines have been provided for the marking of labels as they are dispensed from a roll or like supply of blanks, such machines have been large, intricate and costly both in manufacture and operation, being generally designed for the individual and distinctive printing of each article, as in ticket vending machines.

Applicants invention provides a simple, efficient, effective and inexpensive means for marking individual labels as they are supplied from a roll, the operation being such that the labels are automatically marked as an incident to their individual discharge from the machine. An important feature of the invention is the provision of means whereby the marking of the individual labels may be readily changed so that the single machine may provide for the dispensing of any required number of labels of any desired denomination. The invention also contemplates the use of standard, variable marking devices, such as conventional portable hand stamps. The construction is simple and inexpensive, and the machine provides for the successful delivery of individually marked tags in accordance with any given requirement.

It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel, simple and improved tag, label or ticket marlc'ng and dispensing mechanism, simple and eiiicient in operation and construction, and readily designed to meet the demands of economic manufacture.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a marking machine including means for progressively supplying the material to be marked by step-by-step operation as an incident to the marking operations.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a structure of the character described in which means are provided for automatically dispensing individual tags, labels or tickets as they are stamped.

Another object is to provide a printing and dispensing device in which the marking may be selectively variable.

Also, another object of the present invention is to provide a structure of the character described including means to facilitate the inspection, cleaning and adjustment of the 3d W323 Patented Jan. 28, 1364 :2 mechanism without requiring disassembly thereof for such purpose.

Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is perspective View of one embodiment of the present inventive concept.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation partly in cross section of that form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan View of the preferred type of pres sure sensitive label strip which may be printed and dispensed by the present apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a second type of pressure sensitive label strip which may be printed and dispensed by the present apparatus.

Referring to the invention as here depicted in one of its preferred forms, the structure is illustrated as including a enerally rectangular, horizontal base plate or body 10 to be supported by corner posts 11 upon a table, work bench or a like convenient location. The body 10 may be formed of metal, plastic or equivalent light, rigid and inexpensive material, and is provided with a central longitudinally extending depressed way 12. In the forward portion of the way 12, there is slidably located a windowed platen plate 13. The platen plate 13 is provided at its inner end with a pair of spaced detent receiving openings 14 adapted to selectively receive a circularly bent end detent 15 of a spring bar 16. Bar 16 is mounted to extend longitudinally of the body 10 beneath the way 12 and is secured to body 10 by a rivet 17 located centrally of the Way 12. The upwardly protruding head 18 of the rivet 17 provides a convenient stop to limit the inward movement of the platen plate 13 towards the supply end of the table.

The platen plate 13 is provided with a window 19 of elongate form spaced inwardly from the outer delivery end 2t) of the platen plate 13. A downward terminal flange 21 at the inner end of window 19 is received within a cooperating opening 22 of the way 12, being struck downwardly from the platen plate 13 to provide a stop for the longitudinal reciprocation of the platen plate 13. The body 10 is further provided with a Window opening 23 formed forwardly in the opening 22 and adapted for registration with the window 19 of the platen plate 13 when the platen plate 13 is moved forwardly to the full extent permitted by stop flange 21. By this arrangement when the windows 19 and 23 are in registration, a view of the printing mechanism hereinafter described may be had and access thereto may be gained.

The platen plate 13 is secured against inadvertent reciprocation within the way 12. and against inadvertent upward dislodgement therefrom by overlapping hold-down strips 25 secured on the body 16 in transversely spaced parallel relation by rivets 27 or the equivalent. It will be understood that the thickness of the platen plate 13 is approximately equal to the depth of the way 12 so that the platen plate 13 may lie within the way 12 for reciprocation therein with its upper face on a plane with the upper face of fthe body edges on either side of the way 12 "and secured by the under faces of the strips 25. The inner parallel edges of the securing strips 25 extend over the platen plate and are formed with guide recesses or r-abbets 26 which constitute a channel for the guidance of a label strip such as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4.

In FIG. 3 the preferred form of the label strip denoted generally by numeral 28 is shown as including a backing strip 29 on which are mounted a plurality of tandem arranged labels 30 having perforated portions 31 therebetween for the convenient separation of adjacent labels 30. Between each label 30 is a rectangular tine receiving hole 32 aligned generally with each of perforated pontions 31 and aligned with each other along the central longitudinally axis of strip 29. Such a conventional label strip 28 is normally provided as reels, such as reel 33, the label strip being withdrawn therefrom.

In FIG. 4 a second form of conventional label strip 28' is shown as including a backing strip 29' containing labels 30' provided with perforated portions 31 th-erebetween and spaced slots 32' adjacent one edge thereof.

Mounted on body ill by a right angular flange 34 is an upstanding side or vertical wall 35 which extends adjacent and parallel to Way 12. A reel retaining shaft 36 projects from the vertical surface of wall 35 outwardly over one end of way 12 to terminate in an externally threaded end adapted to threadably receive a retaining cap 37. It will be understood that a reel of label strip shown by broken lines in FlGS. 1 and 2 as label strip 28 is carried by shaft 36, being retained thereon by cap 37. The strip 28 which is nnrecled from the reel on shaft 36, first passes beneath a guide roller 38 projecting from wall 315 and thence beneath spaced upwardly turned lips 39 on the respective inner corners of hold-down strips 25. Next label strip 28 is fed beneath hold-down strips 25 and under the printing device hereinafter described.

For consecutively marking label 3i) or 3% as they are fed forwardly from the supply under the guide roller 38 and between guide recesses '26 of strips 25, there is provided a generally conventional self-inking stamp printer. The form of conventional printer here shown includes side plates 40 secured by and extending upwardly from an open base member 41. The base is secured by base supporting brackets 42 which are bent to provide outer flanges 43 secured to the forward end of the base 10* outwardly of the strips 25. As in conventional fashion, the side members All of the repeating self-inking stamp assembly provide vertically extending camming guide slots 44 which receive a transverse control bar 45 which is also mounted in the lower end of a traveling frame element 46. The vertically reciprocating frame 46 may be reoiprocated by vertical handle 47 which is telescopically slidable over a fixed control shank 4 3 secured to a fixed head 49 mounted between the upper end of the side members 40*. Between the side members ill there is provided a printing bank carrier mounting spools 51 over which numeral bands 52 are trained. In this conventional type of construction, it will be understood that an inking pad is supported on the under face of the head 47, and that as the handle is depressed with the carrier 5i) it will be inverted to present the normally upward indicia of the bands, which have been in contact with the inking pad to the opening between the lower end of the sides 40' and to impress the selected marking on the strip of label material being fed forwardly over the platen plate 13 and under the guide recesses 26. Since the construction and openation of such self-inking, repeat numbering devices as this are well known to those skilled in the art, a further and more extensive discussion of the exact structural details of that form of the device here presented is not believed to be required. Sufiice it, therefore, to say that the multiple bands are individually rotatable over their spools so as to present selective individual numbers for changeable application thereof as stamps to the label material thereunder. It will, of course, be understood that while the bands are commonly provided, each with an individual series of numerals, other indicia may be provided. It will also be understood that for the selection of numerals to be printed the individual spools may be selectively rotated to change the registration of the printing bands.

For feeding the label strip automatically, and as an incident to the operation of the stamping mechanism, there is provided on the inner side 4d a bracket or camming member forming a pair of vertically spaced horizontal retaining plates to which receive and engage therebetween the arcuate end 61 of an upper bell crank arm 62. The bell crank is pivotally mounted at substantially its apex to the plate 31 by means of a pivot pin 63, the lower end of the lower bell crank arm 64 being provided with a pusher arm 65 pivotally mounted at 66. The forward free end of the pusher arm 65 is formed with a downward proiecting tine 67, the mrangement being such that as the handle 47 is depressed the bell crank will rotate on its pivot pin 63 in a clockwise direction to retract the tine 67 rearwardly over label strip 28. When handle 47 is released, it is automatically returned "by its conventional spring mechanism. The bell crank will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction and thus move pusher arm 55 so its tine 67 will move forwarrlly over window 19 of platen plate 13.

From an examination of FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be seen that tine 67 is provided with a substantially vertical surface 63 along its forward portion and a slanting surface which tapers to an inverted vertex with surface 68. Thus, upon each cycle of our mechanism, time 67 rides reanwardly over label strip 23 as handle .7 is depressed and forwardly as handle 47 is released. The path of travel of tine 67 is generally coextensive with the length of window 19 when platen plate 13 is in its retracted position. The path of travel of tine 67 is along the central axis of label strip 23 so as to remain equidistant with respect to strip 25 and thereby be in a position to engage each tine receiving holes 32. Of course, if a label strip, such as label strip 28, is utilized, pusher arm 65 is to be mounted so that tine 67 rides adjacent one of strips 25' in its reciprocal travel. In such cases, window 19 is preferably sufiiciently wide that the time 67 still rides within window 19.

Since the labels 30 or 30, when unreeled from their reel, are usually arched to normally present a convened surface over which time 67 rides, we have provided a spring member 74 which is secured to one of strips 25' and projects forwardly along way 12 to terminate adjacent the tine 67 when tine s7 is in its reanmost position. Spring member 7% passes downwardly against platen plate 13 so as to flatten each label 36 or 30 as the same passes between spring member 70 and platen plate 13 and thereby reduce the likelihood of tine 67 jumping across hole 32 or slot 32.

In operation, it will be seen that as label strip 28 or 28 passes forwandly over the platen plate 13, the vertical surface 63 of tine 67 is adapted to engage between the successive labels 29 or 29' the opening 32 or slot 32 and during the forward movement thereof, as the stamp handle 4-7 moves upwardly thereby pushing the strip of labels forwardly a distance equal to the length of each label. Thus, for each such movement, a fresh unprinted label surface is deposited in position for a subsequent marking upon the next successive downward movement of the handle. Upon such downward movement, the inked indicia bands will be inverted and moved downwardly to print the label 39 or 36' then located over the forward end of the platen plate 13. As such downward movement takes place, the bell crank will be rocked in clockwise direction to move the tine 67 rearwardly to disengage it from one opening 32 or slot 32, whereby it passes rearwardly over at least one and less than two labels 3% or 30. Upon release of handle 47, the spring mechanism will urge the printing device upwardly and such movement will carry with it arm 61 of the bell crank to rock the bell crank in counterclockwise direction, whereby tine 67 will move over the second label until it projects through another opening 32 or slot 32 and into window 19. Thus, strip 28 or 28 is moved, with continued movement of tine 67, one successive label forwardly, projecting the printed label for removal with its portion of backing strip 29 or 29' along perforation 31 or 31. Simultaneously a new unprinted label is positioned for printing.

It will be understood that our printing machine may be set for the imprinting of any desired figure, and that the continuous reciprocation of the handle 47 will provide for the continuous printing of any desired number of labels 41? or 3%, printed with such figure and for the dispensing thereof one at a time. As means for inspecting the location of the printing bands 52 and for the adjustment or repair thereof, the platen plate 13 may be moved forwardly from the position shown in PEG. 2. Upon such movement, the detent 15 will release the forward recess 1.4 while the flange 21 will move forward to engage the forward edge of opening 23 to limit such movement. By such movement the window 19 will be brought to the registration of the window 23 so that inspection of numeral bands 52 may be had through the body 10.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel, simple, improved and economical device for the automatic printing and dispensing of prints, labels or tags. it will be noted that the device may be adjusted to print any selected arrangement of the indioia thereon and to provide for the repeated printing of such indicia on any desired number of labels as supplied from a strip material. It will, of course, be understood that the printing mechanism of the present invention is itself conventional and that the invention contemplates the use of any one of several types of such printing mechanisms without regard to the specific type here illustrated. Thus, it may be seen that the present invention is not limited and confined to the structural details herein set forth, and that in the practice of the invention numerous changes, modifications and the full use of the equivalents may be resorted to without departure from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A marking machine including a flat rectangular base, a vertically reciprocating printer mounted at one end of said base, a side plate extending upwardly from one side of said base, a strip material spool mounted in said plate, a bell crank mounted between said printer and said spool, said crank having one arm carried by said printer for movement therewith, and a pusher connected to another arm of said crank for feeding strip material from said spool to said printer, said base including a slidable windowed platen plate movable from one posito another, the window of said platen plate in one position of said platen plate receiving the end of said pusher and in the other position being registerable with said printer so that said printer may be viewed through said window.

2. A marking machine for imparting a mark to successive labels on a strip having holes therethrough at spaced intervals along said strip comprising a base, means for supporting a reel of said strip on said base, means for guiding said strip in a path along said base, a printer mounted for reciprocation toward and away from said base to engage and disengage individual labels on said strip when the label is positioned between said base and said printer, link means reciprocatable upon reciprocation of said printer, a pusher arm disposed over said strip on said base, said pusher arm being connected to said link means for longitudinal reciprocal movement upon reciprocation of said link means, the distance of travel of said pusher arm being at least the width of one of said labels and not more than two of said labels, a tine on the end of said pusher arm for projecting successively upon successive reciprocations of said pusher arm into successive of said holes to urge said strip beneath said printer during the travel of said printer away from said individual labels, said base being provided with a window beneath said printer, and a platen plate slidably carried by said base and beneath said strip, said platen plate being provided with a window at least as long as the distance of travel of said tine, said platen plate being movable along said base from a position with its Window beneath said tine to a position with its window beneath said printer and aligned with said window of said plate whereby said tine rides within said window of said plate at one position of said platen plate and said printer may be viewed through said window when said platen plate is in another position.

3. A marking machine for imparting a mark to successive labels on a strip having holes therethrough at spaced intervals along said strip comprising a base, means for supporting a reel of said strip on said base, means for guiding said strip in a path along said base, a printer mounted for reciprocation toward and away from said base to engage and disengage individual labels on said strip when the label is positioned between said base and said printer, link means reciprocatable upon reciprocation of said printer, a pusher arm disposed over said strip on said base, said pusher arm being connected to said link means for longitudinal reciprocal movement upon reciprocation of said link means, the distance of travel of said pusher arm being at least the width of one of said labels and not more than two of said labels, a tine on the end of said pusher arm for projecting successively upon successive reciprocations of said pusher arm into successive of said holes to urge said strip beneath said printer during the travel of said printer away :from said individual labels, said base being provided with a Window beneath said printer, a platen plate slidably carried by said base and beneath said strip, said platen plate being provided with a window at least as long as the distance of travel of said tine, said platen plate being movable along said base from a position with its window beneath said tine to a position with its window beneath said printer and aligned with said Window of said plate whereby said tine rides within said window of said plate at one position of said platen plate and said printer may be viewed through said windows when said platen plate is in another position, and a spring member positioned over said strip to urge the same toward said base in its path of travel adjacent the path of travel of said tine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,028,225 Kohnle June 4, 1912 1,048,136 Davis Dec. 24, 1912 1,340,380 Davis May 18, 1920 2,121,864 Flood June 28, 938 2,160,552 Maiben May 30, 1939 2,482,542 Hanrahan et al. Sept. 20, 1949 2,482,726 Clements Sept. 20, 1949' 2,787,215 Metzner Apr. 2, 1957 

1. A MARKING MACHINE INCLUDING A FLAT RECTANGULAR BASE, A VERTICALLY RECIPROCATING PRINTER MOUNTED AT ONE END OF SAID BASE, A SIDE PLATE EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID BASE, A STRIP MATERIAL SPOOL MOUNTED IN SAID PLATE, A BELL CRANK MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID PRINTER AND SAID SPOOL, SAID CRANK HAVING ONE ARM CARRIED BY SAID PRINTER FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, AND A PUSHER CONNECTED TO ANOTHER ARM OF SAID CRANK FOR FEEDING STRIP MATERIAL FROM SAID SPOOL TO SAID PRINTER, SAID BASE INCLUDING A SLIDABLE WINDOWED PLATEN PLATE MOVABLE FROM ONE POSI- 